STORM: Roster for 2008 comes into focus for Storm

ED WEHDE - Staff Writer

Long-time fans of the Storm will be familiar with a lot of theplayers slated to start the season with the Padres' Single-Aaffiliate.

The organization on Thursday announced their minor league
assignments, including which players will come to Lake Elsinore,
and 17 of the 26 players on the Storm's preliminary roster have
played with the team previously.

"It's good to know most of them," manager Carlos Lezcano said.
"The guys who've played with me before know me and I know them.
They know what kind of guy I am."

Among the familiar faces are 10 of the 13 pitchers and four ofthe five projected starters, including Nathan Culp, Cory Luebke,Corey Kluber and Brooks Dunn. Reliever Richie Daigle made 82appearances for the Storm in 2006 and 2007, Ernesto Frieri made 17appearances spread over the last three seasons, and Mike DeMark andJohn Madden spent all of last season in Lake Elsinore. Steve
Delabar and R.J. Rodriguez were with the Storm for part of lastseason.

Position players who have played for Lake Elsinore includeinfielders Keoni Ruth and Jodam Rivera; outfielders Mike Baxter,Javis Diaz and Robert Perry; and catchers Mitchell Canham and MattStocco.

The Storm roster includes five players of the Padres' top 30
prospects as ranked by Baseball America. Three of those will be in
the rotation.

Number-five prospect Drew Miller has compiled a 9-7 record with
a 4.20 ERA in two professional seasons, No. 12 prospect Luebke, a
supplemental pick (63rd overall) in last year's amateur draft, went
a combined 5-3 with a 3.07 ERA in Rookie-Level Eugene (Ore.), Low-A
Fort Wayne (Ind.) and Lake Elsinore. No. 29 prospect Kluber, a
fourth-round draft pick last year, went 1-1 with a 3.51 ERA in
Eugene before making one appearance for the Storm late in his first
professional season.

Other ranked prospects on the Storm are Canham (No. 17) andoutfielder Cedric Hunter (No. 8). Hunter, a third-round pick in2006, has hit .309 and scored 100 runs in 189 games as aprofessional.

"We have some pitchers who have some experience from last year,
and (starting pitching) could be one of our strengths," Lezcano
said. "We don't have the hitters we had last year, but hopefully,
some of these kids will surprise."